Award winning Sandy Zimmerman has been involved in producing television programs, TV commercials, and travel specials for 28 years. Sandy is a syndicated Show and Dining Reviewer, travel writer, Health journalist, professional photographer and talk show host of the Las Vegas Today Show and Discover the Ultimate Vacation travel specials. For information or questions about any of Sandy’s columns, contact Sandy Zimmerman at: sandyzimm2003@yahoo.com

Carpet Designer Adrianna Papell from

Dillards- Photos Above and below.)

The proceeds of Oscar Night® in Las Vegas support Variety, the Children’s Charity of Southern Nevada, which has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for special needs children since 1950. www.onalv.orgdenna.atkinson@gmail.com

Sandy Zimmerman is a syndicated Show/Movie & Dining Reviewer, Travel Writer, and talk show host of the Las Vegas Today Show and Discover the Ultimate Vacation travel specials.

(Photos shot by Sandy Zimmerman during the red carpet and in the Garden Arena studio.)

I love attending the Academy Awards and all of the other major professional recognitions of excellence in their crafts. This was my first time covering the American Country Awards as I went to interview the celebrities on the Red Carpet.

Carrie Underwood, Artist of the Year-Female.

The excitement began as the celebrities arrived. Even though it was unusually cold this afternoon, the females walked the red carpet in their beautiful gowns along with the males in western attire.

Craig Campbell, ACA Performer, 3 time Nominee,

There were some new names in country music and many of countries’ superstars. Multi-platinum recording artist Trace Adkins, co-host with Tony award winner Kristin Chenoweth, admitted he had not followed instructions when he hosted last year’s ACA awards but now perhaps Kristin will keep him in line. During the duo’s hilarious scene, Kristin was hanging by her specially designed jeans which fit around both of them while Trace swung her back and forth. Trace’s well built body stands 6’6” with Kristin’s small 4’11” made this even wilder.

When we arrived at Gaviotas Restaurant, their setting was startling. Just a few steps from the beach and beautiful Bandaras Bay, Gaviotas was the perfect place to watch the sunset. As we walked in, the atmosphere had touches of elegance with their unique mega- man-sized candles created by overlapping melted candles into an enormous base to place smaller candles. The pianist played ballads and love songs to set the mood. We were already beginning to enjoy ourselves.

Man-Sized Candles made with overlaping melted wax for a Giant Candle Holder

Gaviotas is truly everything you would want in a gourmet restaurant. Instead of simply ordering an appetizer, entrée and dessert from the menu, Roberto Cortez Rosendiz, Maitre Sommelier, and Executive Chef Roberto Alcaraz Linares, created a special five- course menu which provided a sampling of several dishes paired with international wines. What a feast!

You can eat the tree, branches, flowers and cakes!

Sommelier Roberto presented the first course their False Ravioli included scallops, mango, vinegar, Chile and lime gelatin. The light Sauvignon Blanc Rincones Wine from Chile had a fruitiness that paired well with the appetizer. Roberto discussed the details about the preparation of the False Ravioli and the qualities of the Chilean wine which he called “aromatic, soft and sensual.”

I have tasted salmon prepared in many ways but Chef Roberto was so creative for the second course, his Salmon Tart combined the flavors of chopped salmon, green Chile, onions, cilantro, lemon and Tajin, a tangy spicy seasoning.

The seasoning awakened the salmon without overpowering its flavor. The tart was so tasteful I would have enjoyed it as an entrée.

My trip to northern California had so many surprises. I was impressed by the Farmhouse Inn, even breakfast was an event! Yes, Inns are usually known for their breakfast but here they served a complimentary two course made-to-order gourmet meal.

I had a first course of Donut Muffins and strawberries with golden balsamic vinegar. Then there was a choice from two second- courses. Either Huevos Rancheros (Eggs Rancheros) poached fresh eggs from their own farm along with black beans, chorizo, queso fresco, home- made salsa and fried tortillas or baked Blueberry French toast. The French toast was different from any other French toast I have ever tasted with their nightingale baguette, blueberries, salted pecans, Chantilly whipped cream, blueberry-maple syrup, and cherry wood smoked bacon. It was so tasty and such a flavorful combination! Another breakfast featured Mascarpone stuffed French toast.

Catherine and Joe Bartolomei, the owners of the Farmhouse Inn, offer such great menus which change daily so you should be ready for spectacular taste treats. Catherine feels, “A farmhouse is what everyone dreams a farm house could be. The experience we are offering is unique. Our food is wholesome and nutritious. Most of the time, the eggs are from our own chickens and the produce from our gardens.”

Murals of five generations of the Bartolomei family. (Photo by Sandy Zimmerman)

Joe discussed their Executive Chef, “We have a Michelin Chef who spends half-a-day stopping at 4-5 gardens while getting from his home to work. He returns with boxes and boxes of produce and decides his menu each day. No menu stays longer than a day. The fruit you eat was on the vine eight hours earlier. It is that quick and that fresh.

I found some very exciting attractions while touring northern California! Safari West is compared to the African Serengeti! The sounds of animals greet you at the entrance. Safari West is not a zoo.

Terry, one of the guides, drove me up to the mountains around the 400 acre wildlife preserve in an authentic Safari vehicle. It was an eerie feeling when he got out to open the gate, drove in and closed the gate behind us. We were in the enclosure with the wild animals! The public must stay in the truck during the tour and are not allowed to walk around. There were antelopes and giraffes close enough to take their pictures.

We could see how the animals live in their environment. The rhinos sat sunning and rolling around in the mud but they were too dangerous to allow anyone to enter the gate. Some of the other dangerous animals were the Cape Buffalos.

The James Bond Wine Table

May 15th, 2010 • by admin

When you visit Del Friscos, do not miss seeing the most amazing $1.2 million dollar James Bond table. Looking like a normal table at first, Jacque touched her remote control pad and the table suddenly opened to present the James Bond OO7 Films Wine Collection. Eighteen magnums of Cabernet wine from Napa Valley wineries each represent different Bond films. These one- of-a kind bottles are each laser-edged.